The Brain
I chose to learn more about psychology and the advances made in neuroscience. I specifically read Carl Zimmer’s article in National Geographic called, “Secrets of the Brain.” I was able to learn about Van Wedeen’s research and the new technologies being used that are allowing us to discover more about how the brain actually works. It is a very interesting article because it is written first hand by Carl Zimmer, as he is being “experimented” on by Wedeen. Neurological discoveries are significant to me because I am able to expand my knowledge of the brain and apply these findings into my own life.
Wedeen discovered a way to “grid” the brain by using a fMRI scanner. This scanner is able to trace white matter patterns in the brain, and therefore can record the brain as it is in action. This has “helped reveal networks involved in all manner of thought processes, recognizing faces, to enjoying a cup of coffee, to remembering a traumatic event,” Zimmer explains. The brain has always been a huge mystery to the scientific/medical community, so being able to understand a little more about how it works, signals, and organizes is a very big deal! Not only is it …show more content…
Why do people think differently? Where does the information we learn go? Why is sleep so important for our brains? What changes occur in the brain of people with disorders? The questions go on and on! But because these questions were asked, researchers/scientists were challenged and eventually discovered the answers. I think all of us can agree that the brain is amazing, but also very confusing and mysterious. There is still so much that we don’t know about it and how it functions. One question experts have is, “what causes autism?” No one knows the answer to this question yet, but hopefully these advancements in neuroscience will lead us to the answer one